Our Researcher is currently building up a resource of stories to use in the redevelopment project.  The following stories are from this collection.  If you have more information to add to any of these stories we'd love to hear about it.  Enjoy reading.

Dr John Rutherford Ryley The first to use anti-septic surgery methods in Australasia (at Hokitika).  A brilliant surgeon and a paranoid alcoholic.  Deserted his wife and took his son to Fiji and later Australia.  Died aged forty-four of a self administered drug overdose.   Read more...	Carbolic Sprayer
Alexander Beveridge Alexander Beveridge saved up to 35 people from drowning during the 5 years he spent on the West Coast.  He was the first person in New Zealand to twice receive a bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society.  Beveridge was described as having a 'daring and commendable devotion to the cause of humanity.   Read more...	West Coast Times, 29 July 1865
Chinese on the West Coast The gold-miners who arrived on the West Coast of New Zealand from late 1864 onwards were a cosmopolitan group, coming from most parts of the globe and speaking many different languages.  From late 1866 Chinese were amongst the crowds of people seeking their fortunes on the West Coast.  By the mid 1870s Chinese made up the largest minority group on the West Coast goldfields.   Read more...	Unknown Chinese miner at Ross, c. 1900.
Mary Power Mary Power was a successful business woman who made the most of the business opportunities offered by a gold-rush.  She was nick-named 'the miner' (perhaps because she was good at getting the miners to spend their gold at her hotel) and was also known as 'Mother Power' because of her 'open handed charity'.   Read more...	Mary Power's Dunedin Hotel, Revell Street, Hokitika, late 1860s.  West Coast Historical Museum.